Alur Kingdom launches verification process for Project-Affected Persons in World Bank-funded Water Project

Nebbi: The Alur Kingdom has initiated a formal verification process to generate authentic lists of project-affected persons (PAPs) and resolve grievances over unpaid compensation for the World Bank-funded water project in the Omier Central Forest Reserve, Kalwang Chiefdom, Nebbi sub-county, Nebbi District.

The World Bank-funded water project includes components for environmental restoration through tree planting on about 200 acres. Community members staying on the land have been permitted to intercrop with low-growing crops such as groundnuts and beans to allow maintenance of the planted trees.

A similar initiative is underway in Maracha and Terego districts in West Nile.

According to the Kingdom, a high-level meeting held on Monday, 25th May 2026 at Kingston Guest House in Atyak Sub-County marked a key step in conflict resolution and consensus-building between the Kingdom, clan leaders, local authorities, and project-affected persons.

Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala (Jadipu), accompanied by senior kingdom officials, chaired the engagement aimed at addressing community concerns and advancing fair redress mechanisms.

During the facilitated session, participants reached several mutual agreements to ensure transparent and equitable resolution of the compensation issues:

The Kingdom will lead the compilation and verification of lists of unpaid Pathedi Clan members affected by the project. This will be conducted in collaboration with the LC1 Chairperson as the government representative on the ground, followed by a revaluation exercise to ensure effective and accurate compensation.

Plans were endorsed for a separate engagement meeting with the Ogamo Clan to identify paid and unpaid individuals, promoting inclusive grievance redress across all affected groups.

The Alur Kingdom formally requested detailed project documents from the outset, including survey reports and lists of previously assessed PAPs, from Pinnacle Consults and relevant government offices to support an evidence-based verification process.

The Acting Rwoth of Kalwang Chiefdom, Albert Aromborach, together with the LC1 of Atyak Village, will map areas that may have been missed during initial project assessments. Following the meeting, a broader community engagement forum with the entire Pathedi Clan will be convened.

Reiterating commitments from the 13th April 2026 meeting, the Kingdom called on the government to provide adequate security for project workers and infrastructure to safeguard ongoing implementation.

The hour-long constructive, solution-based meeting, chaired by Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, was attended by Pathedi Clan heads led by Jagu Kaal Ovoya Saidi, area Lower Local Government leaders represented by the LC1 of Atyak Village, the Acting Chief of Kalwang Chiefdom, and other participants.

All participants expressed satisfaction with the explanations and the Kingdom’s proactive mediation role.

Prince Lawrence Opar Angala urged the Pathedi Clan heads to take a clear message to their subjects about the resolutions reached. He reminded them that during the verification of affected persons, government and Kingdom representatives will be involved to ensure an effective process.

“Clan heads should organize a dialogue to bring all the clan subjects to discuss on who is directly  affected” Opar told the clan leaders, assuring that “government  and  Kingdom representatives shall be represented such that we come out with clear lists of the directly affected persons.”

Pathedi Clan head Jagu Kaal Ovoya Saidi welcomed the resolutions, saying: “We believe this method will help to address the issue of unresolved compensation claims by our people.”

The Acting Rwoth of Kalwang Chiefdom, Albert Aromborach, urged the representatives from the Pathedi Clan to “ensure clear message reaches to the subjects” to guarantee a smooth forthcoming verification process.

The community pledged to collaborate with Alur Kingdom and government efforts to advance the water project, which aims to significantly improve access to clean water in Kalwang and surrounding areas.

According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, water access rates in Nebbi District currently vary widely, with some sub-counties as low as 26%.

The project is expected to reduce reliance on unsafe water sources and mitigate health risks from water-borne diseases for thousands of residents.

Project benefits will include the construction of a water tank to extend clean water supply and the opening of access roads for the agrarian community.

According to Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, the clear verification process led by the Alur Kingdom represents a model of traditional institutions supporting peaceful resolution of development-induced grievances while ensuring project benefits reach the intended rural communities.

Recently, the stakeholder engagement was convened by the Office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Nebbi. It brought together Alur Kingdom officials, represented by the Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Opar Angala, and residents from the Pathedi and Ogamo clans of Kalwang Chiefdom to promote peaceful co-existence with project implementers and prevent any sabotage of the multi-million-dollar initiative being implemented by Pinnacle Construction.

The Alur Kingdom assures that further follow-up meetings are anticipated as lists of project-affected persons are finalized and submitted to the government for compensation.

The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) is implementing water supply and sanitation infrastructure upgrades in the water-stressed, refugee-hosting districts of West Nile (Arua/Madi-Okollo/Terego, Yumbe, Adjumani, Moyo), Northern Region (Lamwo), and the Mid-West (Kiryandongo). Funded by a World Bank credit via the Integrated Water Management and Development Project (IWMDP) and the IDA 18 Sub-Window for Refugees and Host Communities, the project aims to improve service access, operational efficiency, and integrated water resources management.

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